Dedicating an Altar?

We will be dedicating a new altar soon with the bishop. In the meantime, may we use this new altar or should we have the old one in place as a temporary one?

--Acting upon in Albany

Answer:

The Rite of Dedication of an Altar, 13 says:

Since an altar becomes a sacred principally by the celebration of the eucharist, in fidelity to this truth the celebration of Mass on a new altar before it has been dedicated is to be carefully avoided, so that the Mass of dedication may also be the first eucharist celebrated on the altar.

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John Thomas Lane, SSS

Blessed Sacrament Father John Thomas Lane pastors his home parish, the Roman Catholic Community of Saint Paschal Baylon, Highland Heights, OH. He writes a regular column for Emmanuel Magazine on pastoral liturgy. Formerly, he graduated from the University of Akron with a degree in music and education, Catholic Theological Union, with a Master of Degree, Word & Worship specialization and a Master of Arts, Liturgical Studies, from the University of Notre Dame du Lac. He served the Diocese of Salt Lake City, Utah as the Director of Liturgy, vocation minister for the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament, and on the Southwest Liturgical Conference Board of Directors for 17 years. He also pastored in Houston and Albuquerque.